Of course the beam arrived while Gabbi was at school so I waited to open it until she got home. She was so excited to open this huge box!

She squealed as we set it up and immediately wanted to practice cartwheels on it. One of the biggest reasons we wanted a beam for Gabbi is because like many gymnasts she struggles with beam confidence, it’s not that she’s scared but she just isn’t totally confident in her skills.

The Addie beam has become a absolute ‘must have’! It sits on the floor with purple rounded feet, which we LOVE! Gabbi adores the Addie beam and loves practicing on it multiple times a day, working on skills like turns, leaps, handstands and cartwheels/roundoffs. Since the beam basically sits on the floor, that ‘fear of a new skill’ is virtually non-existent! Gabbi is willing to try almost anything! I can look ahead and see how awesome this beam is going to be when she is working on back handsprings on the beam. Her coach was stunned at how quickly Gabbi improved in such a short time! She is so proud, so confident, and ready to conquer the world!

I HIGHLY recommend checking out the Addie beam {at any level}, especially if you have a competitive gymnast that needs to practice more at home!
What we love:

The Addie beam is competition width, so no learning and relearning skills because of different beam widths.

Its the perfect home size at 8ft!

Its low to ground so she can safely practice new skills at home!

Gabbi loves that the beam is “cushy”! It has the perfect amount of padding and is so soft.

The Addie is PERFECT for all skills at all levels!

The Addie Beam features:

Its only $179

8 ft long and competition width (10 cm)

It has the look and feel of a competition beam

Its covered in synthetic suede

It has a wood core

It has rounded top corners

The support legs are plastic with a beveled top edge to help protect little feet

I feel like home gymnastics equipment and storage go hand in hand. The Addie beam takes up very little space so it can easily be stored up against the wall, behind and couch or under the bed. When Gabbi is not using her Addie {pretty much when she’s in bed!} we like to put it here in front of our fire place. When we have guests we just move the beam to the twins room. Though it is fairly heavy, Gabbi {little miss independence] can move the beam to where she wants it by herself. She moves one end at a time…its adorable.Tumbl Trak is more than just gymnastics, they have tons of great equipment in all price ranges and their customer service is AMAZING!

If you have ever searched “gymnastics equipment” then chances are pretty good that Tumbl Trak was at the top of your search, but just in case you are unfamiliar with Tumbl Trak let me tell you all about this awesome company.

Beginning with an idea formulated at a presentation seen by founder, Doug Davis, at a National Gymnastics convention back in the early 1980’s, Tumbl Trak, the product and the company, was born. Influenced by coaches like Fred Roethlisberger (John’s dad) and Leonard Isaacs, Doug’s philosophy of progressions and a minimal spotting approach took root. This philosophy can only work with the right equipment and knowledge. So, Tumbl Trak went to work on developing both.

By 1988, the first version of the Tumbl Trak hit the market. Gymnasts and coaches alike welcomed the concept of a long tumbling surface with an open ended frame. Since then, Tumbl Trak has developed many accessories to the Tumbl Trak as well as many other types of training aids like the Air Trak, Air Floor, Sweet Spots, T-Trainer, Laser Beam and a new line of mats using “Smart Mat Technology” READ MORE

When she saw the Tumbl Trak logo on the box she FLIPPED! We ripped into the big box first {of course} She was beyond gitty when we pulled out her new Tumbling mat {in bright pastel} She immediately ran and put on her all time favorite Simone Biles leo…I mean if you are going to use new gymnastic equipment you have to do it in style! **The smaller box contained the Skill Builder Package {Keep an eye out tomorrow when I share all about it!}

Tumbling can be hard at first, and when you are just starting out its very easy to have too much force and land smack on your back. Gabbi has been there more than once, especially when she was first working on handstand balance. The Tumbl Trak tumbling mat is amazing at absorbing the impact so she can jump back up and do it again!

This mat has been wonderful for Gabbi’s confidence and determination. My husband and I often watch in amazement as she works so hard on her skills. There are some skills that take a lot of time and a lot of practice, especially handstands for her, she had a heck of a time finding her balance and many MANY many times she flipped right over on her back, but this girl gets right back up and tries again and again, I swear it’s all because of this mat…seriously, its ability to absorb impact and the fact that it is the same as the ones used at her gymnastics academy, makes her want to work harder! She has successfully taught herself how to do a front handspring last week, it’s not perfect but whoa she worked SO hard! Honestly, it has been amazing to see this tiny little person and the determination in her eyes as she worked on it.

This tumbling mat so much more than just a “soft floor” did you know this tumbling mat can be used to help improve skills while both unfolded and folded!

Gabbi’s favorite unfolded skills:

Handstands

Splits

Front Rolls

Back Rolls

Back walkovers

Front handsprings

Gabbi’s favorite folded skills:

Stretching

Elevated splits

Strengthening

Backrolls – it has worked wonders for Gabbi’s backrolls.

Backbends

Gabbi LOVES to do floor routines {she makes them up based on Final Five!} This mat is big enough for her tiny frame to stay on the mat the whole time 🙂

A few weeks ago she was working on backbends {they can be really scary at first} she was having a heck of a time, and I thought it would be so much easier if we had a wedge mat…LIGHTBULB! I angled the folded mat with one end resting on the floor and the other resting on the couch cushions, it made the prefect angle. She tried her backbend again {with me spotting of course} and she nailed it. With the mat at an angle she didn’t have to go as far back but was still able to get the feel of it. After a few times with me spotting she was ready to do it on her own….of course 🙂

This mat is a MUST have in our home! It motivates Gabbi to work hard and try new and harder things. More importantly this mat gives a safe place to practice, lessening the risk of injury that may occur without a mat. My husband and I love that Gabbi and her brothers can work on their gymnastics {and martial arts} skills safely.

#1 Reduce the risk of injury: Not only are these tumbling mats thick and comfortable they are also grippy {not sticky…think more non slip vinyl} because of this there is virtually no chance of slipping and getting injured! When you buy a quality gymnastic mat such as this you are not only getting something fun and useful, but taking extra steps to keep your little ones safe! Now I call that a win win!

#2 Amazing versatility: Tumbl Trak tumbling mat is more than just a pretty mat! Although yes, this is a very aesthetically pleasing mat and the colors are amazingly vivid its so much more. When it comes to gymnastics there is a very broad equipment range and a mat perfect for all including bars and beams, not only does the mat offer a “safety floor” but it helps protect the floor under it.

#3 It’s comfy & easy to move: As my daughter says “this is such a comfy mat” it really is! This mat is not only soft and cushiony but firm, making it really fun to use! This mat is very sturdy yet lightweight and very easy to fold and maneuver, Gabbi has no problem moving it where she wants, unfolding it, using it then folding back up and putting it away!

Gabbi uses her tumbling mat

every. single. day!

Please go check out Tumbl Trak and all their awesome products! What would you love to have for you (or your child’s) home gym?

Gabbi has a whole list…

Jr. Kip Bar in Purple {She LOVES the bar at her gymnastic academy and she would spend hours on them!

Brianna Beam Package{During the Olympics she watched wide-eyed and decided the bars and beam were her most favorites…yep they certainly are!}

Jr. Practice Mat {Gabbi has a friend with this mat and she loves it because it is extra thick and “helps me be braver”

Do you already have this mat? Share your photos and video with us using #tliblovestumbltrak

I know Gabbi would love to see how others use her fave mat!

Friday I will be posting a Q & A about the Tumbling mat and the skill builder set. I decided this would be a great idea since I already have had a bunch of questions from parents at NWGA. If you have any questions you’d like answered or something you are wondering about please email me.

Tumbling Mats | $152.00 – $282.00

“Why settle for an imitation mat when you can own a genuine Tumbl Trak mat – the same brand trusted by thousands of coaches and schools throughout the world?”

Tumblr Trak Tumbling Mats come in a wide assortment of colors:

Bright Pastel

Primary Rainbow

Royal Blue

Purple

Blueberry Explosion

Watermelon

Stars and Stripes

Flower Power

Each mat is easily transported and folds into easy-to-manage sections for storage at home or at the gym. Each mat offers 2ft wide folding panels in a variety of colors with Velcro on two ends.

Tumbl Trak Tumbling mats are a perfect addition to any home gym, with their ability to be folded and store pretty much anywhere this tumbling mat is perfect for all dwellings! Starting at $152. it fits in most budgets, which we love! I HIGHLY recommend the Tumbl Trak Tumbling Mat to anyone with an active child, whether it’s gymnastics, cheer, martial arts, etc.

**You’ve been asking: Leo pictured is Gk Elite Nastia Lukin and is no longer available 😦

Disclaimer: My husband and I want our kids to do what they want and what they love. Gabbi LOVES gymnastics! When I say she works for 2+ hours a day on her skills thats all her. At the ripe age of 7 Gabbi decided and told her coach that she would like to be a competitive gymnast. She knows she has to work hard to get there so she does. If she wants to work on skills all day thats great, if she wants to only during practice thats great too.